ORDER CARNASSIER. 31 I 



sel, Bete-puante, fyc. The effort by which the fetid matter 

 is projected, is described by the natives as a crepitus 

 ventris : the muscular coat of the glands, as far as I have 

 ascertained, serves only to propel the fluid into the rectum, 

 at the pleasure of the animal : its discharge, as a means of 

 annoyance to its enemies, is effected by a general effort of 

 the abdominal muscles. On the Mountain Prahu, the 

 natives who were most active in supplying me with speci- 

 mens of the Mydaus, assured me that it could only propel 

 the fluid to the distance of about two feet : the fetid matter 

 itself is of a viscid nature ; its effects depend on its great 

 volatility, and they spread through a great extent ; the 

 entire neighbourhood of a village is infected by the odour 

 of an irritated Teledu, and in the immediate vicinity of the 

 discharge it is so violent as in some persons to produce 

 syncope. The various species of Mephitis in America differ 

 from the Mydaus in the capacity of projecting the fetid 

 matter to a greater distance. 



" The Mydaus is not ferocious in its manners, and taken 

 young, like the Badger, it might easily be tamed. An in- 

 dividual, which I kept some time in confinement, afforded 

 me an opportunity of observing its disposition ; it soon be- 

 came gentle, and reconciled to its situation, and did not, at 

 any time, emit the offensive fluid. I carried it with me 

 from Mountain Prahu to Bladeran, a village on the decli- 

 vity of that mountain, where the temperature was more 

 moderate. While a drawing was made, the animal was 

 tied to a small stake ; it moved about quietly, burrowing 

 the ground with its snout and feet, as if in search of food, 

 without taking notice of the bystanders, or making violent 

 efforts to disengage itself : on earth worms (lumbrici) being 

 brought, it ate voraciously ; holding one extremity of a 

 worm with its claws, its teeth were employed in tearing 

 the other : having consumed about ten or twelve, it became 

 drowsy, and making a small groove in the earth, in which 



